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Sumit SinghalSumit Singhal loves modern architecture. He comes from a family of builders who have built more than 20 projects in the last ten years near Delhi in India. He has recently started writing about the architectural projects that catch his imagination.

Hydroelectric Tidal Home by Margot Krasojevic Architects-Decodeine

This private residence is anchored into the coast, in an attempt to harness tidal power as a way of sustaining the shelter. The tidal house has two shells, the outer cast in concrete anchors the house to the beach whilst the interior shell contained within rises with the tide as it enters the outer shell.

Water flows through the semi circular concrete shell which contains solar cells that provide an electrical supply to the living area, the cross section is made from an array of individual piston type tidal turbines which has the potential to generate electricity as a renewable source of energy, tides are more predictable than solar and wind energy which makes it easy to find an appropriate location and immediate context.

These protruding turbines are lightweight aluminum chambers which compress when a wave breaks into them, this kinetic energy in turn creates an electrical current similar in the way of wind turbines, the outer surface of the anchor is arranged with these tidal turbines. The inner shell is made from a lightweight aluminum monoculture structure that floats within the external bunker as the tide rushes through it. There are three modules to the living are making it easy to dismantle according to the functional requirements of the house.

The outer shell is clad in a framework of cast concrete sections making it easier to transport. The form creates a series of channels for water to travel though creating a whirlpool effect which mimics the beachcomber house itself, in order to trap as much tidal energy throughout it’s structure.